(KGTV) - California’s Assembly on Thursday approved a bill that would ban gun and ammunition sales at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Assembly Bill 893, introduced by San Diego-based Democratic Assemblyman Todd Gloria, would permanently prohibit gun/firearm sales on Del Mar Fairgrounds property starting in 2021.
The Del Mar Fairgrounds property is owned by the state of California.
RELATED: Gloria touts bill that would ban gun and ammo sales at Fairgrounds
Gloria said of the bill’s Assembly approval: “Today marks a major step forward for this bill and a major step toward making our communities safer by reducing the number of guns in our neighborhoods. The communities around the Del Mar Fairgrounds have been clear: they do not want these gun shows taking place on this state-owned land. With this bill, we are demonstrating that we value people over guns and are putting public safety first.”
Last year, the Crossroads of the West gun show -- an event held at the Fairgrounds for the past 30 years -- was temporarily banned following a vote by Fairgrounds board members.
The organizers of the gun show called the temporary ban unconstitutional and filed a lawsuit.
“The state does not get to decide what speech is acceptable and what speech is disfavored simply because the Sacramento politicians don’t like “gun culture.” The California Rifle & Pistol Association already has one lawsuit in working its way through the courts and we will not shy away from filing additional legal action should this clearly-unconstitutional bill become law," said Chuck Michel, President, California Rifle & Pistol Association and civil rights attorney in a statement to 10News.
RELATED: Gun show operator sues Del Mar Fairgrounds over moratorium
With the Assembly’s passage, the bill will head to the state Senate for discussion and vote.
